Today's News

Mills County officials are hosting an educational opportunity for area residents to learn more about Avian Flu and the disposal plan for affected birds. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the East Mills Community School, 1505 East 15th St. in Malvern.

Discussion during the Glenwood City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee May 12 meeting concerning the possible sale of the Glenwood Public Library Annex came to an abrupt halt after two members of the audience made strong statements in opposition of the sale and city leaders were accused of “going behind the backs” of Glenwood Library Board members in considering the matter.

They’ve seen some initial estimates, but until construction bids are opened next month, Glenwood city council members won’t know for sure how much it’s going to cost to build an outdoor aquatic center.

The city is accepting bids on the project until June 3. The bids and the future of the project could be considered at the council’s regular meeting June 9.

The Davies Amphitheater will be under new management when the 2015 summer season opens on Memorial Day.
Jeff Mitts and his wife Carol, longtime patrons of the amphitheater, have taken the baton from Gordon and Lori Woodrow, who retired from their management duties last fall.

“I’ve always liked coming out and seeing the shows,” Mitts, a member of the Davies Amphitheater Board of Directors for the past six years said. “When they (Woodrows) decided to retire, Gordon approached me and asked if we’d be interested in taking this on.”

The CEO of Iowa Waste Systems, owner and operator of the Loess Hills Sanitary Landfill, said Monday the facility near Malvern has a road built and equipment in place to begin burying as many as 3.5 million dead chickens that have died or been killed as a result of the H5N2 Avian Bird Flu.

“We were ready two weeks ago,” Robert Glebs said. “We’re in negotiations - working with the USDA.”

A group of Mineola-area residents have filed a petition in Mills County District Court they hope will overturn a controversial decision to approve a second dirt extraction special use permit in their neighborhood.

Nearly 100 residents with physical or intellectual disabilities are living in new facilities and about 250 workers have been forced to find new employment as the result of Thursday’s planned closure of Park Place (Glenwood) and Pacific Place (Pacific Junction) skilled-care and rehabilitation centers.

Massachusetts-based Five Star Quality Care, owner and operator of the two facilities, announced the closures last December, citing financial issues.

TABOR - When the only grocery store in Tabor closed in 2014, police chief Mike Wake and more than two dozen community leaders stepped up to bring back the business they believe is vital to the survival of the close-knit town in Fremont County.

“We could see if it wasn’t going to reopen, it could hurt Tabor a lot,” Wake said. “We just thought if we could get enough money, we’d get it opened and that’s what we’ve done. That’s why the investors did it and why we did it.”

The large tree snapped above its trunk during a thunderstorm shortly after 1 p.m. The severed section of the hollowed-out tree fell in a southeasterly direction before landing on the front portion of a house at 501 N. Vine St.

A neighbor said she notified authorities of the incident after hearing a loud noise and then seeing the crushed house under the tree when she looked down the street.